Using someone elses work in a song...poetry.

[Inflin]

Hello there. Just wondering if anyone knew any more about this than I do.

I really want to incorporate two lines of a Philip Larkin poem into my song, because it sums up the tone of the song more than I ever could, and I'd like to pay respect to the man, from one art to another, and all that.

Of course, I'm not going to pass these two lines off as my own, he will be credited in the liner notes, the back of the CD, the mp3 tags, everything. The CD on which the song will appear will be up for sale.

So how do I go about obtaining permission? I have never used a "snippet" of a work in anything so I really have no clue. I would assume I should contact Larkins estate and work from there but I'd like to know what I'm really able to do before it goes that far. I have no qualms about paying his estate a fair royalty, but how much is that considered to be for two lines of a poem?

Or, would this just be considered a "nod" to the poem, much like when a band fits a small section of a differnt song into thiers as a "musical nod" and get away with it?

Perhaps I should just ask my lawyer tomorrow. Just thinking about it is confusing me.

[dj150888]

Be overly cautious rather than under cautious. Better to ask for permission and get it refused than not ask for it and have a legal problem. Just contact the estate, explain to them why you want to use it and how it'll be credited. If you're not earning money (or much money) from the band, explain that too and maybe they'll give you a freebie!

[Inflin]

Originally Posted by dj150888

Be overly cautious rather than under cautious. Better to ask for permission and get it refused than not ask for it and have a legal problem. Just contact the estate, explain to them why you want to use it and how it'll be credited. If you're not earning money (or much money) from the band, explain that too and maybe they'll give you a freebie!

Of course. I'll contact them tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get a straight and fully honest answer, but you never know when it comes to lawyers and money. If not I'll just have to trust whatever I am told tomorrow. I'd certainly not risk doing it without permission.

[dj150888]

Keep all correspondence from them for your own protection then.

[Music Attorney]

Presumably his works fall under UK Copyright law and I won't be able to help here.

Best,
MA